Services

Spirit Clinic provides Connecticut and New York with virtual quality comprehensive mental healthcare services. Scroll down to learn more about Mindful Meds Management, Psychiatric Evaluations, and Psychotherapy

Psychiatric Evaluation

In our evaluations we look at the whole picture of what has brought a patient to Spirit Clinic. In this first step of the process you can expect to discuss your history, any prior diagnoses or medication, your preferences, and your goals for our time together.

  • In our evaluations we complete a comprehensive biopsychosociocultural assessment. This can include a patient’s medical, psychological, and psychosocial history and any relevant family history.

    We then discuss our psychiatric diagnosis(es), at the conclusion of the visit. It is important to note that diagnosing personality disorders typically occurs over the course of 6 or more visits (no addition psychiatric evaluation visit required).

    Finally, we work with our patients to create a treatment plan. Plans are formed in collaboration with our patients by combining their needs and preferences and our expertise in symptomatology, established treatment guidelines, consultation and other appropriate factors.

    All visits include education on the diagnosis and prognosis, our patient’s presenting symptoms, and the recommended treatments. Patient education is vital particularly when treatment includes psycho-pharmaceuticals and specialized therapies such as EMDR or DBT from outside clinicians.

    Note: neuropsychological testing can only be performed by clinical neuropsychologists.

Mindful Med Management

After the psychiatric evaluation, follow up visits will involve medication management, if starting medications is a part of your treatment plan. Details on different mindful med management are below and will be reviewed in session.

  • Typically when a patient starts medication(s) for the first time, frequent monitoring is strongly suggested. Our standard is to have a phone consultation within the first 2 weeks of starting a medication to discuss dosage and effects.

    Follow up visits for patients starting new medications occur every 4 weeks until we have reached an effective dose with no to minimal side effects. Once the effective dose is reached follow up visits may be less frequent.

    Our general practice philosophy, is to start medication(s) at low doses while slowly titrating up (increasing) the dosage.

    This will 1) minimize risk of medication side effect(s); 2) find the minimum dose of medication effective for reducing our patients symptoms; 3) limit the exogenous compounds introduced to the body.

  • If you are visiting Spirit already on medication(s) we will begin with a review of your psychiatric medication regime to:

    • Ensure no medication redundancies are occurring. We want to make certain you are on only what you need;

    • Review any potential adverse effects, side effects, contraindications, and rare but potentially life threatening conditions associated with a patients previously prescribed medication(s). Education is a key part of your informed consent in taking any medication(s).

    • Review the recommended dosages and/or medications for those who are presenting with a pre-existing medical-physical condition.

    If your medication regime needs no adjustments you will follow up for medication monitoring every 3 months. Some patients have the option of a biannual follow up based on the medication and dose, length of time on the medication(s), and general mental and physical health.

    Switching, removing, and/or adding medications may also be recommended based on your needs/preferences and thorough assessment.​

  • Some patients elect to taper medications with intent to discontinue their medication. This is especially common when psychiatric medications are started following a crisis or emotional upheaval (such as grief or loss). If your choice is to completely stop medications we will go over your options and create a discontinuation plan.

    For many patients who have been on their medications for a long time there can be feelings of both relief and anxiety when looking to decrease doses or discontinue medications. We are here to hold space for your concerns and desires

    As a part of the discontinuation plan we conduct an intensive review of your history focusing on your responses to missed doses and the circumstances that lead to starting medication(s) in the first place. We work to ensure discontinuation is the safest and most appropriate decision. All patients have the right to trial stopping medication(s). We will be thorough in making sure this is a viable option for you.

Psychotherapy may be offered as a part of your medication management plan. This is offered by Spirit Clinic owner Cristal Sampson, a board certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC). Psychotherapy is not offered outside of our Mindful Meds Management treatment plans.

Psychotherapy